Squeeze-type dispensing head



April 20, 1965 J. c. LUCHT 3,179,301

SQUEEZE-TYPE DISPENSING HEAD Original Filed Oct. 1'7, 1960 12Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOHN C. LUC HT ATTORNEYS April 20, 1965 J. c.LUCHT 3,

SQUEEZE-TYPE DISPENSING HEAD Original Filed 001:. 17, 1960 12Sheets-Sheet 2 I I -4 Ls fig g4 INVENTOR JOHN C.LUCHT ATTORNEYS April20, 1965 J. c. LUCHT 3,179,301

SQUEEZE-TYPE DISPENSING HEAD Original Filed Oct. 1'7, 1960 12Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR JOHN C.LUCHT ATTORNEYS April 20, 1965 J. c.LUCHT 3,179,301

SQUEEZE-TYPE DISPENSING HEAD Original Filed Oct. 1'7, 1960 12Sheets-Sheet 4 463 FIG. l4 40 FIG. 22

INVENTOR. JOH C. LUCHT Z Z ZJ ATTORNEY April 20, 1965 J. c. LUCHT3,179,301

SQUEEZE-TYPE DISPENSING HEAD Original Filed Oct. 17, 1960 12Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR. JOHN C LUCHT ATTORNEY April 20, 1965 J. c.LUCHT 3,179,301

SQUEEZE-TYPE DISPENSING HEAD Original Filed 001:. 1'7, 1960 12Sheets-Sheet 6 JOHN c. LupH-r ,4 2 M2 ATTORNEY April 20, 1965 J. C.LUCHT SQUEEZE-TYPE DISPENS ING HEAD Original Filed 0613. 17, 1960 llllli FIG. 3|

12 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR- JOHN C. LUCHT ATTORNEY April 20, 1965 J. c.LUCHT SQUEEZE-TYPE DISPENSING HEAD Original Filed Oct. 17, 1960 12Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. 35

FIG. 38

FIG. 42

FIG.43

IOI

INVENTOR. JOHN C LUCHT "fl fl !4 FIG. 39

FIG. 40

ATTORNEY April 20, 1965 J. c. LUCHT 3,179,301

SQUEEZE-TYPE DISPENSING HEAD Orig inal Filed Oct. 17, 1960 12Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR. JOHN C. LUCHT ATTORNEY April 20, 1965 J. c.LUCHT SQUEEZE-TYPE DISPENSING HEAD Original Filed Oct. 17, 1960 12Sheets-Sheet 10 FIG. 53

INVENTOR.

JOHN C. LUCHT ATTORNEY April 20, 1965 J. c. LUCHT 3,179,301

SQUEEZE-TYPE DISPENSING HEAD Original Filed Oct. 17, 1960 12Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTOR.

JOHN C. LUCHT BY A- ATTORNEY SQUE'EZE-TYPE DISPENS ING HEAD OriginalFiled Oct. 17, 1960 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTOk. OHN C. LUCHT i Q MATTORNgY United States Patent l 3,179,301 SQUEEZE-TYPE DISPENSING HEADJohn Charles Lucht, New York, N.Y., assignor to The Battelle DevelopmentCorporation, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 62,948, Oct. 17, 1960. This application Feb. 17,1964, Ser. No. 346,375 15 Claims. (Cl. 222-213) This invention relatesto a dispensing head and more particularly to a novel self-closingdispensing head for tubes and resilient containers. This dispensing headhas particular adaptability for use both with pasty and semifluid typesof matter such as tooth-paste, shaving cream, catsup, mustard and thelike and with relative fluid materials such as water and aqueoussolutions.

This application is a continuationof my co-pending application SerialNo. 62,948 filed October 17, 1960, now abandoned which is acontinuation-in-part of application Serial No. 795,971 filed February27, 1959, now abandoned.

There has long been a need for a dispenser in which the dispensingopening therein is self-closing, thus eliminating the use of screw topsnow predominantly in use for such purposes. In the past, efforts havebeen made to overcome this difiiculty and various types of closingmembers have been provided for deformable tubes and squeeze typecontainers which include hinged devices, slide closures and evenresilient self-closures. However, while some of these devices haveovercome the difiiculty and necessity of utilizing a removable cap forthe closure, most of these closures were still difficult to use or tooexpensive to manufacture and thus prevented their widespread use. Inorder to provide a self-closing dispensing head, particularly fortoothpaste and the like, it is necessary that the closure be held firmand tight in its closed position and in particular to squeeze theremaining paste entirely free of the mating closure members. This tightclosure is necessary because toothpaste in particular, and alsofoodstuffs, tend to harden or disintegrate upon contact with theatmosphere.

It is therefore a primary object of my present invention to provide adispenser of the squeeze type with a novel selfclosing dispensing headwhich in its closed position will be held firmly in place and will notallow air to enter the interior of the dispenser.

Another object is=to provide a self-closing dispensing head comprising aresilient material wherein opposite side walls of the dispensing headare relatively rigid and are rotatable or hingeable with respect to eachother about a fulcrum to provide an opening through which material isdispensed from the head, the fulcrum being coincident with the terminiof said opening to provide a dispensing opening which is readily closedand tightly sealed.

A further object is to provide a self-closing dispensing.

head comprising resilient material wherein stresses Within the headcause a dispensing opening in the head to be tightly sealed to preventingress of air or egress of material from said head when the pressure ofthe operators fingers on the head is released.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple, practical andreliable construction that is economical to manufacture and positive inits operation.

With the above and other objects in view, which will more readily appearas the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consistsin the novel construc- 3,179,301 Patented Apr. 20, 1965 In the drawings,like reference numerals refer to like parts and:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view in section showing one form of thedispensing head of my invention in its closed position, combined with acontainer;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view in section similar to that of FIGURE1 but showing the head in open position;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the device as shown inFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken from theviewpoint of line 4-4 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, side-elevational view in sectioncorresponding to FIGURE 1 but showing a modification of the embodimentof FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken from theviewpoint of line 66 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a side-elevational view in section of another embodiment ofthe dispensing head of my invention;

FIGURE 8 is a side-elevational view in section corresponding to theviews of FIGURES 1, 5, and 7, showing another embodiment;

FIGURE 9 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken from the viewpointof line 99 in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a side-elevational view in section of a modification of theembodiment of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 11 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 10 and showing thedispensing head in the open position;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary perspective view from above of the embodimentof FIGURE 11 in the position shown in FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional view of a head from which anotherembodiment may be made;

FIGURE 13a is a plan view of the head of FIG- URE 13;

FIGURE 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a step in a process ofmaking the embodiment of FIGURES 16 to 21 from the head of FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a step in anotherprocess of making the embodiment of FIGURES 16 to 21 from the head ofFIGURE 13;

FIGURE 16 is a plan view of another embodiment of a dispensing head inaccordance with the invention;

FIGURE 17 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 18 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIGURE 16 takenon line 18-18 in FIG- URE 16;

FIGURE 19 is across-sectional view of the embodiment of FIGURE 16 takenon line 19-19 in FIG- URE 16;

FIGURE 20 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIGURES 16 to 19 inoperational use;

FIGURE 21 is across-sectional view of the embodiment of FIGURE 16 takensubstantially from the viewpoint of line 1919 in FIGURE 16 and showingthe dispensing head in use in a manner similar to that of FIGURE 20;

FIGURE 22 is a top view of a substantially cylindrical bottle having anelliptical neck and an elliptical opening in the top;

FIGURE 23 is a top view of an embodiment provided by applying the headof FIGURE 13 to the bottle of FIGURE 22;

FIGURE 24 is across-sectional view of the embodiment of FIGURE 23 takenon line 24-24 in FIG- URE 23;

FIGURE 25 is a plan view of a cylindrical bottle having a substantiallycircular neck and a substantially circular top opening in the bottle;

FIGURE 26 is a top view of a head from which another embodiment of theinvention may be provided;

FIGURE 27 is a top view of another embodiment of the head of theinvention provided by applying the head of FIGURE 26 to the bottle ofFIGURE FIGURE 28 is a perspective view of a spring member which may beapplied to provide a dispensing head in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 29 is a perspective view of another spring which may be appliedto provide a dispensing head in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 30 is a perspective view of another spring which may be appliedto provide a dispensing head in accordance with the invention; 7

FIGURE 31 is a cross-sectionalschematic view of one step in thepreparation of the embodiment of FIGURE it FIGURE 32 is across-sectional view of another embodiment in accordance with theinvention;

FIGURE 33 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a step in thepreparation of the embodiment of FIGURE 34; V

FIGURE 34 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment in accordancewith the invention;

FIGURE 35 is an elevation of a head which may provide an embodiment inaccordance with the invention;

FIGURE 36 is a side View corresponding to that of FIGURE 35 of anembodiment provided by suitably applyingito the device of FIGURE 35 aspring in accordance with FIGURES'39 and FIGURE 37 is a cross-sectionalview taken on line 37'.-37 in FIGURE 36;

FIGURE 38 is an elevation taken from the viewpoint of line 38-38 of thehead of the embodiment of FIG- URE 36;

FIGURE 39 is an elevation of a spring member;

FIGURE 40 is a top view of the spring member of FIGURE 39; v V

FIGURE 41 is a cross-sectional view of another head from which anembodiment in accordance with the inveniton may be made;

FIGURE 42 is a perspective view of a spring;

FIGURE'43 is a perspective view of another spring;

FIGURE 44 is a cross-sectional view of a dispensing head in accordancewith the invention made by applying the spring of FIGURE 42- to the headof FIGURE 41;

FIGURE 45 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment in accordancewith the invention;

FIGURE 46 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of 45 taken fromthe viewpoint of line 4646 in FIGURE 45; 7

FIGURE 47 is a side elevation of another embodiment;

FIGURE 48 is a cross-sectional view of the -embodi-, ment of FIGURE 47taken on line 48-48 in FIGURE i FIGURE 49 is a fragmentary schematiccross-sectional view of a portion of an embodiment;

FIGURE 50 is a fragmentary schematic cross-sectional view of a portionof an embodiment;

FIGURE 51 is a cutaway perspective schematic view 7 of a portion of anembodiment;

FIGURE 52 is a cross-sectional view of dispensing head and containerintegral therewith from which another embodiment may be made;

FIGURE 53 is a cross-sectional view of an'em'bod ment made from thedevice of FIGURE 2;

cross-sectional view of another em- FIGURE 58 is a perspective view ofanother embodiment of a dispensing head in accordance with the inventioncombined with a container;

FIGURE 59 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIGURE 58 in aclosed position as shown in FIGURE 58;

FIGURE 60 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to that of FIGURE 59of the embodiment of FIGURE 58 with the opening of the dispensing headinthe open position;

FIGURE 61 is a cross-sectional view taken from the viewpoint of line6161 in FIGURE 59;

FIGURE 62 is a cross-sectional view taken from the viewpoint of line62-62 in FIGURE 60. 7

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the letter D generally indicates my novel dispenser and the same broadlyincludes the dispenser body 10 and my new and improved self-closingdispenser head 11. Obviously the body It) may be made in any desiredshape and from any type of flexible, resilient or collapsible material.However, the self-closing dispensing head 11 should be formed from aresilient material which, when deformed, will tend to assume itsoriginal position upon release of pressure.

The portion 17 of the interior may be made any desired shape. Thethickened walls 12 and 13 angle away from the central opening or conduit17, as shown, and provide access to the interior of the body '10, asindicated by the numeral 18. I also provide a transverse slit I3 acrossthe entire upper surface 20 of the dispensing head 11 and whichterminates midway of the conduit 17, as indicated by the numeral 21.Obviously, therefore, when pressure is put on the finger members 22 and23, the slit I9 is opened and the interior contents of the body may bedispensed. I may also provide a number of semi-circular serrations ortongue and groove members 24 and 25 on each jaw 24 and 25'-respectively, and it is noted that these extend entirely around theopening or central cavity 117 and meet at the fulcrum points 21, sothatwhen the dispenser is in its closed position, the aperture will beentirely sealed from the atmosphere and thus the contents protected.

Ithus provide a dispensing head of resilient material, having a centralcavity and a slit extending into said cavity providing a fulcrum definedby fulcrum points 35 at the ends of the slit, that is one fulcrum pointat each end, and in this regard attention is directed to FIGURES 10 to12, inclusive, wherein the basis principle and structure of my inventioncan be better explained and understood. In this form, the dispensinghead 11 may be formed with generally convex outer surfaces and may behollowed out to provide the upper portions 17' and 18' of chamber 31having walls 27. Slit 26is provided at one end, extending into thecavity or portion 17 to point 35. Walls 28 and 2? are relatively thickand are provided with thumb or finger grips 3G. Inward pressure on thegrips 30 opens the slit 26 by causing the jaws to pivot about thefulcrum 35 thus providing access to the interior of chamber 31'; Thischamber is formed by the continuous walls 32 of the body 33. I may alsoprovide each wall or jaw member of the slit 26 with circular serrationswhich interlock, as indicated by the number 34. When inward pressure isreleased the natural resiliency of the material will tend to close theslit or opening about the fulcrum points thus effectively sealing thecontents from the atmosphere.

It should be here noted that the opening or slit 26 (FI URES 10 and 12)and the opening or slit I9 (FIGURES 1 to 4) as well as the slit in theremaining figures yet to be described may be sealed with a coating ormembrane at the factory in order to protect the contents fromcontamination, evaporation or the like.

If desired, the efiect could be achieved by molding the closure with theslit not quite through to the exterior, but easily ruptured by theultimate consumers first digital manipulation. Further, the closure maybe secured during packing, distribution, storage, etc. by an elasticbandaround the jaws of the opening or by any other desired means.

I also wish to point out that my novel dispenser may be made in anydesired shape or superficial design and that I have only shown anddescribed a few preferred forms in order to better illustrate theversatility of my basic concept.

Referring now to FIGURES 5 and 6 of the drawing, it can be seen that Imay provide a further modification in which the fulcrum point 37 isreinforced by forming a solid bridge portion 38 integrally molded andjoining the walls 39, 40, 41 and 42 of the body This forms a built-infulcrum about mid-way of the cavity 43 and access is had through a smallaperture 44 to the contents of the dispenser. The slit 19 and structureof the jaws, serrations (if desired), etc. are identical to that formshown in FIGURES 1 to 4 of the drawings. Thumb grips 45 are alsofurnished.

In FIGURE 7 of the drawings, I have illustrated how my novel inventionmay be applied to a conventional toothpaste tube T or other type ofthreaded container in lieu of the conventional cap. In this form of myinvention the dispensing head D operates both as closure (cap) and asmeans for dispensing the contents of the tube. The construction thereofis identical to that form shown in FIGURES 1 to 4 of the drawings exceptthat I provide a reinforced threaded aperture 46 in the bottom wall 47of the reduced body portion 48. This threaded aperture 46 is of a sizeand configuration to thread over the conventional threads of the tube T.Split jaws 49 and fulcrum 50 operate in the same manner .as that formpreviously described and shown in FIGURES 1 to 4 inclusive.

Attention is now directed to FIGURES 8 and 9 of the drawings wherein Ihave illustrated a further modification of my device and again, it is tobe noted that the dispenser is identical in principle and operation tothat form illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 4 of the drawings. However, it isconceivable that the inherent resiliency of some of the materials usedmay not be sufficient to tightly close the slit 19 (FIGURES 1 to 4).Therefore I may provide a pair of springs 51 each of the flat leafspring type, substantially U-shaped, and embedded so that the legs 54thereof extend downwardly into the end walls 55 and 56 respectively andtend to exert force outwardly towards the thumb and finger grips 57.This pressure causes the slit 56 to be held firmly in a closed position;otherwise, the operation, principle and construction is the same as thatillustrated more particularly in FIGURES 1 to 4 of the drawings. a

Therefore, inasmuch as the principle of operation and even the structureis substantially the same in all forms of my invention, in order tooperate my novel dispenser D, D' and D", it is merely necessary to exertpressure inwardly on the thumb and finger grips 22 and 23 (FIG- URES lto 4 inclusive), 30 (FIGURES 10 to 12 inclusive), 57 (FIGURES 8 and 9)and 45 (FIGURES 5 and 6). This inward pressure will tend to spread openthe respective jaws to a comparable position illustrated in FIGURES 2,3, 11 and 12 of the drawings and by squeezing on the body of therespective container the contents will :be dispensed through the centralconduit 17, 17, 43 or 49 respectively.

Referring specifically to FIGURES 10 and 12 of the drawings and to statemy unique closure concept in still another way, it can be said that Iprovide broadly an essentially outer convex wall conformation ofresilient material which is hollow inside, and said material ispartially seperated into two convex portions by a slit 26. This slitextends through said outer convex Wall conformation and ends in twoterminal points 35, which points are placed opposite each other andposterior to the outermost extension of the hollowed area 17. The wallsof the convex portion separated by the slit 26 are reinforced so thatinward pressure may be exerted at points 30 posterior to the points 35to cause pivoting at the fulcrum points which of course are also theterminal points 35 of the slit 26.

By virtue of the fact that the hollowed area 17' within the essentiallyouter convex wall conformation does extend outward or forward of theslit end fulcrum points 35, the pivoting at the slit end fulcrum pointsresults in opening the mated edges of the slit, thereby exposing apassageway or conduit past the fulcrum points, which passageway ispartially formed by said hollowed area 17.

My closure may be made as previously mentioned of any resilient materialand it is a signal advantage of my design that it is so arranged thatthe natural resiliency of the material used may be augmented by moldingsprings within the sides of the closure, which spring will exertpressure to keep the jaws of the closure tightly closed.

While all of the forms shown thus far indicate a slit placed exactly inthe center of the essentially outer convex wall conformation, it isevident from the nature of my novelty that this need not be the case.The slit may be placed off-center to create jaws of unequal size andshape and I may even provide extended integrally molded lever-typehandles (not shown) to assist in applying pressure. When pressure isapplied, it is possible to apply in one motion force which will urge thejaws to pivot about the points 35 and compress the body of the container(if the container is a resilient or compressible container) to forceoutward the contents; thus a motion of just one hand may open theclosure and expel the contents from the interior.

When pressure is released from the thumb and finger grips the inherentresiliency of the material will cause the respective dispensing openingor slit to resume its normal closed position.

The relatively rigid wall portions accommodating thumb and finger gripsin the embodiments shown, may be lengthened to extend farther down thesides of the container than in such embodiments as those of FIG- URES 1and 2, 52S4, 55 and 57 and away from the slit,

thus accommodating gripping action by the fingers or by the hand holdingthe container at points increasingly distant from the slit. Suchlengthening (as in the embodiments of FIGURES 10-l2 and 58-62) of theportions which act to open the slit, makes it more convenient tocollapse the body of a flexible container in a single squeezing motionwhich also pivots the upper side wall portions of the relatively rigidwall portions to open position. Thus, both the opening and the forcibleevacuation of a container may be achieved by a single squeezing motionof the single hand holding the container.

Referring now to FIGURES l3 and 13a, there is shown an embodimentindicated generally as 60 of the dispensing head of the invention whichmay be utilized as shown or which preferably may be operated upon in amanner described below to provide a preferred embodiment of theinvention. First sidewall portions 61 and 61 are relatively rigid byreason of being made relatively thick and comprise upper portions 67 and67 and lower portions 69 and 69. Disposed between sidewall portions 61and 61' are relatively thin and resilient sidewall portions 62 (of whichinterior surface 64 is shown in FIGURE 13) and 62'. Slit 65 is providedin one end of the head extending downwardly into sidewall portions 62and 62' and located between portions 67 and 67'. Interior surfaces 63and 63' of portions 69 and 69' and 64 and 64' (64 not shown in thefigures) of portions 62 and 62' combine to define in part a conduitwhich extends communicatingly from slit 65 to a container (not shown) towhich the head may be attached by means of depending flange member 208.Pressure such as finger pressure of an operator may be applied toportions 69 and 69' to not shown. and 492 having a layer of insulatingmaterial 493. The

thereby move portions 61 and 61' hingeably or rotatably with respect tofulcrum 68 (which is coincident with the lower termini of slit 65) andhingeably move portions 67 and 67 apart and thereby open slit 65 byproducing deformation of thin resilient walls 62 and 62' so that thecontents of the container may be dispensed through the conduit andthence through slit 65. Upon release of such pressure, the resilience ofthe material comprising the dispensing head and particularly the walls62and 62' causes portions 61 and 61 to hingeably move about fulcrum 68in a reverse manner to thereby close slit 65, thus halting thedispensing of contents and closing the container to the atmosphere.

By suitable operations upon the head 6% of FIGURES 13 and 13a describedbelow in connection with FIG- URES 14 and 15, there may be provided apreferred embodiment which is shown in FIGURES 16 to 21. Theseoperations result in providing a head having portions and parts whichare the same as those of head '68, though some are changed. Referringnow to FIGURES. 16 to 21, such portions and parts are therefore numberedidentically to those in FIGURES 13 and 13a, But many of the parts in theembodiment of FIGURES 13 and 13a are deformed as shown particularly at201, and 2M in sidewall portions 61 and 61' and at 202 and 262' insidewall portions 62 and 62. By reason of such deformation, stresses areintroduced into sidewall portions 61, 61, 62 and 62 which tend to deformthe head into a position wherein upper portions 67 and 67' would bepartly coextensive in space. Because they cannot be co-extensive inspace said stresses provide pressure of each of the walls 66 and 66 ofslit 65 against each other. Said pressure is a compressive force andproduces a compressive stress in each of said walls. The magnitude ofsuch compressive stress upon and in various portions of wall 66 isdiscussed below in connection. Such compressive stress may be greater ina portion of wall 66 which is more remote from fulcrum 63 than in aportion of wall 66 which is nearer to fulcrum 68. The magnitude of thestress in a portion of the wall may be proportional to the remoteness'ofsuch portion from fulcrum 68, as discussed hereinbelow in connectionwith FIGURES 49, '0 and 51.

The stresses in the walls may be overcome by finger pressure as shown inFIGURES 20 and 21 whereby pressure between walls 66 and 66' andcompressive stress therein is first reduced to nil and then portions 61and 61 are caused to rotate hingeably about fulcrum 68, which coincideswith lower termini of slit 65, to open slit 65 in the same mannerdiscussed in connection with FIGURES 13 and 1311.

Release of such finger pressure results first in closure of slit 65 andthen in re-imposition of the compressive stress represented by arrows2%, 233 and 243 in FIG- URES 49, 50 and 51 due to the resilience of thewall portions and the stresses which have been introduced thereinto. e

The embodiment of FIGURES 16 to 21 may be provided with a flange such asflange 208 to facilitate its connection to a container or may be madeintegral with a container in a manner hereinbefore and hereinafterdescribed in connection with the same or similar embodiments.

Referring now to FIGURE 14, the head 60 of FIGURE 13 is placed withinmold 401 and mold cover 402 is placed adjacent mold 401 and clampedthereagainst by means Mold 401 may consist of metal parts 491 cavitythus provided by mold members 401 and 492 conforms to the exterior shapeof head 60 with the exception that spaces 495 and 406 are providedadjacent the outer surfaces of portions 69 and 69'. Fluid underpressure, such as hydraulic oil, water, air, or the like thenmay beintroduced into the interior of head at through aperture 403 in moldcover 4492 as indicated by arrow 404'. Either mold part 492, or aportion of the fluid which is applied under pressure as indicated byarrow 404 or both mold part 492 and a portion of the fluid may be heatedso that the portion of the head 60 which is adjacent mold part 4% isheated and members 69 and 69' are caused to deform to at least partiallyfill spaces (:05 and 4%. The upper portion of the head and especiallyportions 67 and 67 are preferably kept cool so that the yield strengthof the material is exceeded only in the lower part of the head. This maybe accomplished by cooling part 491 or by refraining from heating partdid; it then remains unheated because of being insulated from part 492by member 493. If hot fluid is supplied, it should not contact theportion of the head adjacent part 491. Any suitable heating means may beutilized to heat part 4% or a desired portion of the fluid. Thus,radiant or conduction heating or dielectric or induction heating may beutilized. The mold part 492 or the fluid or both may then be cooled,that is, the mold parts may be cooled or cool fluid may be supplied inplace of the hot fluid or both and then fluid pressure may be released.The head retains the form it assumed when spaces 405 and 496 were filledor partially filled and mold cover 402 may then be removed and the headremoved from mold 401 whereupon a head is produced having the form shownin FIGURES 16 to 21 and having stresses therein which produce thepressure indicated by arrows 203, 233 and 243. In order to produce thepreferred stresses, it is preferred that permanent deformation beintroduced into only a portion of the head.

A suitable material from which the head may be made is ordinary orstraight polyethylene; i.e., a polymer of ethylene having a density of.91 to .92 having numerous side chains and cross branchings and havingmelting and softening points in a range of from about 190 F. to 225 F.In producing a head from such material, the mold parts or fluid or bothare heated to a temperature of from about 205 F. to about 230 F. orhigher, it only being necessary that the softening point of the plasticbe reached. With a lower temperature, such as 200 F. or 205 F. and afluid pressure of 60 pounds per square inch, several minutes may berequired to produce the desired deformation, whereas with highertemperatures or higher pressures or both, shorter times are required sothat for example with a temperature of about 210 F. and a pressure ofpsi, less than a minute may be required and with higher temperatures,of, say, 230 F. or 240 F. and even a pressure'as low as 50 or 60 psi.even a shorter time is required. The specific temperatures and pressuresrequired form no part of the instant invention, since both thetemperature and pressure are determined by the nature of the materialused and any one of several materials may be used.

Thus, a suitable material may be a so-called linear polyethylene, thatis, a polymer of ethylene made by any one of certain recently'developedprocesses whereby a polymer is produced which may have a density of fromabout .95 to .98 and wherein the molecules are relatively free from sidechains and cross branching. Such polyethylenes have higher'meltingpoints and higher softening points than straight or ordinarypolyethylenes. Heads in accordance with the invention may also suitablybe made from resilient materials comprising nylon, polypropylene,polycarbonates or other suitable resilient and even elastomericpolymeric materials.

Referring now to FIGURE 15, there is shown schematically a step inanother method which may be used to produce the head of FIGURES 16 to21. A device indicated generally as 408 which has two portions, 409 and410, which fit surfaces 63'and 63 of head 60 is inserted within head 60.Spring 411 in device 408 biases portions 409 and 410 outwardly oppositefrom each other. A suitable portion of head 60 with device 498 insertedtherein may be heated by any suitable means. Thus the head may be placedpartially within an oven or may be placed within an oven having portionsthereof maintained at different temperatures or may be immersed in a hotliquid such as water 494, as shown, to thereby heat a suitable portionof the material of which head 60 is made. As a result of the softeningof the resilient plastic from which the head may be made the biasingaction of spring 411 causes portions 409 and 410 to move outwardly fromeach other, thereby deforming portions 69 and 69' to provide head 6% asshown in FIGURE 15. The head may be immersed to a greater or lesserextent than that shown; the extent of immersion, duration of immersingand temperature of the liquid are determined by the particular materialused and the design of the particular head being made and may be as usedin conventional molding procedure or may be determined with ease for aparticular design. A guide to selection of proper values for time andtemperature is given above. In place of a liquid heating bath to heat aportion of the head there may be used one or more streams, sprays orjets of hot fluid, either fluid such as water or oil, vapor such assteam or gas such as air. I may also use dielectric heating to heat asuitable portion of the head. The amount of deformation provided in head60' may be sufi'icient to provide a head as shown in FIGURES 16 to 21but suitably heating is continued until the deformation of portions 69and'69' is greater than that shown in FIGURE 15; then the head is cooledand then device 408 is removed, whereupon a head in accordance with FIG-URES 16 to 21 is produced.

Other means than those shown and discussed herein in detail may be usedto introduce stresses in accordance with the invention. Thus, a portionof the head or all or a portion of the container body or a combinationof a portion of the head and all or a portion of the body, after beingmade by molding, casting or the like may be heated and allowed to shrinkor heated and mechanically deformed inward (as shown for example inFIGURES 52 to 54) to introduce such stresses. Furthermore, theintroduction of stresses may take place as a second step in injectionmolding or blow molding the head, utilizing all or part of the originalmold in which the head was made.

A head in accordance with FIGURES 13 and 130, having a flange 208 whichis circular in plan view as shown in FIGURE 130, may be attached by saidflange to the elliptical neck 415 of bottle 416 shown in FIG- URE 22;the embodiment of FIGURES 23 and 24 is thus provided.

As shown in FIGURES 23 and 24, flange 208 is caused to be elliptical inplan and in consequence portions 69 and 69' are forced outwardly at thebottom thereof as at 211 and 211' and wall portions 62 and 62 are forcedinwardly as at 212 and 212'. Thereby stresses are introduced in the wallportions 61 and 61', 62 and 62', which produce compressive stresses onthe walls of slit 65 corresponding to those discussed in connection withthe embodiment of FIGURES 16 to 21 and illustrated in FIG- URES 49, 50and 51.

Referring now to FIGURE 26, a head may be made which is generallyelliptical in plan and which, like the head of FIGURES 13 and 13a, isrelatively unstressed. Thus flange 208 and wall portions 71, 71', 72 and72' corresponds to wall portions 61, 61', 62 and 62 and coact in thesame manner, so that slit 75 may be opened and closed by applyingpressure to members 71 and 71' in the same way that slit 65 is opened byapplication of pressure to the lower portions of members 61 and 61' andallowed to close in the manner hereinbefore described.

The head of FIGURE 26 may be applied to and attached to a bottle 418having a circular neck 419 (as shown in FIGURE 25) to provide theembodiment of FIGURE 27. The embodiment of FIGURE 27 when viewed incross section on line 24a-24a is similar in appearance to the embodimentof FIGURE 24 and stresses are provided in wall portions 71, 71', 72 and72 which 13 act like the stresses in members 61, 61', 62 and 62' in theembodiment of FIGURE 24 and which cause pressure to be exerted betweenthe walls of the slit in the manner discussed in connection with FIGURES49 to 51.

The compressive stress provided on the walls of the slit in theembodiments of FIGURES 24 and 27, respectively, generally corresponds tosuch pressure discussed in connection with FIGURES 49 to 51.

Stresses within the walls of the head of the invention may be provided(as in the embodiment of FIG- URES 8 and 9 or the embodiment of FIGURE32) by embedding a spring or springs in the walls or (as in the theembodiments of FIGURES 34 and 44) by placing a spring member in theinterior of the head in co-acting engagement with the walls or (as inthe embodiment of FIGURES 35 to 38) by attaching spring members to theoutside of the head. In each of these embodiments spring member ormembers co-act with the walls to provide two relatively rigid oppositewall portions, with the exception of the embodiment of FIGURE 44.Consequently in these embodiments, except that of FIGURE 44, all of thewall portions may be' of the same thickness or approximately the samethickness because the relative rigidity of opposite wall portions isprovided by the spring member or members. Because the spring membersprovide suchrelative rigidity of opposite wall portions it is notnecessary that two opposite wall portions be made relatively thick, asin the embodiments hereinbefore described, in order to provide suchrelative rigidity.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 29, 31 and 32, spring member 420as shown in FIGURE 29 may be placed within a cavity in mold 421 and heldin place within the cavity in spaced apart relation to the interiorwalls thereof by pins 422 which may engage the ends of member 420.Suitable mold members (not shown for simplicity) may then be broughtinto engagement with mold member 421 and the head indicated generally asmay be produced by injection molding, casting or the like. When head 80is removed from mold member 421, head 80 as shown in FIGURE 32 isprovided wherein member 420 acts to provide maximum outward distortionof members 89 and 89 at regions 221 and 221. In operation, portions 89,89', 87, 87, 83, 83', 84, 88, 88, 86, 86', and correspond respectivelyto members 69, 69', 67, 67', 63, 63', 64, 68, 68', 66, 66', and 65 andslit 85 thus is closed and opened in the same manner as slit 65.

As shown in FIGURE 33, a head indicated generally as 90 may be made bycasting or molding or the like. It may corresponding to head 80 with theexception that instead of being provided with means for imbedding thesprings within the walls, recesses 424 and 425 are provided in theinterior surfaces of lower sidewall portions 99 and 99' to receivespring 420 which may be inserted by holding its ends together with asuitable device, such as'tongs 426, to facilitate its insertion.

In FIGURE 34 there is shown a head 90 into which spring 420 has beeninserted, indicated generally as head 90'. Spring 420 biases portions 99and 99 outwardly, the maximum deformation therein being provided as atpoints 231 and 232 so that upper portions 97 and 97' of oppositesidewall portions 91 and 91 are forced together so that they tend to beco-extensive in space and thus provide pressure on walls 96 and 96' toprovide positive closure of slit 95, the stresses on walls 96 and 96'being similar to the stresses indicated by arrows 203, 233, and 243.Wall 92, as indicated by its interior surface 94, may have a thicknessthe same or about the same as wall portions 91 and 91', if desired,because the desired relative rigidity of wall portions 91 and 91' may beprovided by spring member 420.

Spring members 428 and 429 shown respectively in FIGURE 28 and FIGURE 30may be utilized in place of spring member 420. The specific form of thespring 11 member is not critical if it is suitably'made to co-act withthe wall portions of the head to provide stresses therein which providecompressive stress on the walls of the slits, such as slit 35 or slit85, in the manner hereinbefore described. Spring member 429 may beprovided with holes 434 therein to reduce its weight.

Heads 86' and 90' may respectively be provided with flanges 228 and 238to facilitate their connection to containers or if desired may be madeintegral with a container.

Referring to FIGURES 35 to 40, the head 11%) shown in FIGURE 35 may bemolded or cast from a suitable material and may be provided withextending notch portions 432 near the bottom of upper sidewall portions107 and 1117' and with tubular portions 431 attached to lower sidewallportions 189 and 1119'. Head 1% as shown in FIGURES 36, 37 and 38 areprovided by inserting springs 430 (FIGURES 39 and 40) into tubes 431 asshown and engaging the tops of each of spring members 431) under notches432. Maximum deformation in lower sidewall portions 109 and 109' ofopposite wall portions 101 and 101 is then provided at 241 and 241. Wallportions 101 and 101' are made relatively rigid by members 430. Stressesare provided within the wall portions which correspond to the stresseshereinbefore described and the stresses provide pressure on the walls ofslit 1115 as in other embodiments. Interior surfaces 1113, 103', 1114,and 1114' of relatively rigid wall portions 109 and 1119' and relativelyflexible wall portions 1132 and 1112' respectively in part define aconduit extending communicatingly between slit 105 and a con tainer towhich the head may be fitted by means of flange 248. I

The head of FIGURE 41 indicated generally as 110 corresponds to head 60shown in FIGURE 13 with the exception that surfaces 63 and 63' areprovided with ridges 441 and 442 which define a groove 443thereinbetween to receive the spring member 440 of FIGURE In FIGURE 44there is shown head 110 with spring member 440 inserted therein toprovide the head indicated generally as 110' in which, due to the actionof spring 440, the walls are deformed as in the embodiment of FIGURES 16to 21. The head of FIGURE 44 is operable in the same manner as discussedin connection with the embodiments of FIGURES 16 to 21, 24, 27, 32, 34,and 36 to 33.

Spring member 445, shown in FIGURE 43 may be utilized in place of springmember 440 if the walls of the head are made suitably difierent in shapein order to suitably receive spring member 445.

As shown in FIGURES 45 and 46 a head 130 may be provided whichcorresponds generally to the head shown in FIGURES 13 and 13a; stresseshave not been introduced to provide pressure between the walls of slit135 and compressive stresses in the 'walls of slit 135. Thus, parts ormembers 131, 131, 132, 132, 133, 133', 134, 134, 135, 137, 137', 138,139 and 139' and 258 correspond respectively to parts or members 61,61', 62, 62', 63, 63", 64-, 64', 65 67, 67', 68, 69, 69', and 268. Headlf'sfi differs primarily from head 69 in that wall portions 131 and 131'may be somewhat thinner or thicker than walls 132 and 132' or may be ofthe same or approximately the same thickness; the relative rigidity ofwall portions 131 and 131' with respect to wall portions 132 and 132' isprovided by causing walls 131 and 131 to be of more rigid material, thatis, different and more rigid chemical composition as indicated at 234and 234. Walls 131 and 131' may be made separately from walls 132 and132' and be made of more rigid material and the head may be assembledinto the form shown in FIGURES 45 and 46 by cementing or bonding variousparts together, including the wall portions. Alternatively, the head maybe made (with the configuration shown in F1GURES 45 and 46 of a materialwhich may be subjected to chemical treatment to harden it and then wallportions 131 and 131' may be subjected to such treatment to make themrelatively harder and more rigid than wall portions 132 and 132. Forexample, the head might be molded of a co-polymer of polyvinyl chlorideand polyvinylidene chloride and wall portions 131 and 131 might then besubjected to one of the treatments described in the literature forhardening such material such as for example a liquid or gas comprisingone of a number of amines or other nitrogen-containing compounds.Alternatively, similar hardening may be effected by using a physicaltreatment to cause a change in chemical composition. Thus, the head maybe molded in the configuration shown, utilizing straight or ordinarypolyethylene as above mentioned. Hardening of wall portions 131 and 131may then be accomplished by subjecting these wall portions 131 and 131'to the action of gamma rays to thereby change the configuration of themolecules in the polyethylene and cause the polyethylene to becomeharder and more rigid in the treated area.

In FIGURES 47 and 48 there is shown another embodiment whereinrelatively greater rigidity is provided in wall portions 141 and 141'than in wall portions 142 and 142' by adheringmetal or other stiltplates 45!? and 4511' to wall portions 141 and 141' with adhesive 451and 451'. Pressure may then be applied on the lower portions of 141 and141' to hingeably move portions 141 and 141' with respect to fulcrum 148and to thereby hingeably move upper sidewall portions 147 and 147 apartwith respect to each other and open slit 145. Head 241) corresponds tohead 61) in that stress has not been introduced therein to createpressure between walls 146 and 146 of slit 145. Such stresses maysuitably be introduced by applying to head 24% any one of the processeshereinbefore described for the introduction of such stresses to deformfirst relatively rigid sidewall portions 141 and 141 and relativelyflexible and resilient wall portions 142 and 142 to introduce pressurebetween slit walls 146 and 146' and thereby introduce compressive stressinto said walls.

As shown schematically in FIGURES 49, 50 and 51, pressure between thewalls of the slit is provided by introduction of stresses into the headas hereinbefore'discussed, that is, each slit wall exerts pressure onthe other wall and as a result there is a compressive stress in thematerial adjacent each wall which is represented by arrows 2113, 233 and243 respectively in the three figures. In FIGURE 49 there is shown aportion of an embodiment having slit wall 266, fulcrum 268 and upperportion 267 of a relatively rigid sidewall. In FIGURE 50 there is showna portion of a similar embodiment having slit wall'286, fulcrum 288 andupper portion 287 of a relatively rigid wall. In FIGURE 51 there isshown a portion of an embodiment having slit wall 246, fulcrum 248 andupper portion 247 of a relatively rigid sidewall. Stresses .may beintroduced into the heads of these figures in any of the mannershereinbefore described; for example the process described in connectionwith FIGURE 14' orthe process described in connectionwith FIGURE 15 maybe used to provide any one of these heads, wherein the wall portionshave been deformed to introduce stresses therein and, as a result,pressure is applied by each of the slit walls to the opposite slit wallso that adjacent portions of said upper sidewall portions would bepartly co-extensive in space if that were possible. Since it is not,said pressure results in compressive stresses, as hereinbeforementioned, which have magnitude indicated'by the arrows. It may be seenthat the compressive stress is preferably greater in the slit walls ineach of FIGURES 49, 50 and 51 at points more remote from the fulcrum. InFIGURE 49 the rate of increase of the compressive stress with respect tothe distance of a point in wall 266 from fulcrum 268 may be reduced inproportion to the distance of the point from 13 the fulcrum as indicatedby dotted line 501 which indicates the locus of the ends of arrows 203.In FIGURE 50, as shown by arrows 233, and line 502 which indicates thelocus of the arrow ends, the rate may be increased.

In FIGURE 51, the rate is shown as being constant, as shown by arrows243 and line 503 which traces the rate of increase as indicated by themagnitudes of the arrows.

The embodiments of each of FIGURES 49, 50 and 51 are similar, if notidentical to the upper portions of the embodiments of FIGURES 8 and 9,FIGURES 16 to 21, FIGURE 24, FIGURE 27, FIGURE 32, FIGURE 34, FIGURES 36to 38, FIGURE 44, FIGURES 53 and 54, FIGURE 55, FIGURE 56, FIGURE 57,FIGURES 58 to 62 and embodiments which may be made by introducingstresses into the head of FIGURES 45 and 46 and the head of FIGURES 47and 48. The rate of increase in any one of these embodiments may be asshown in FIGURE 49, FIGURE 50 or FIGURE 51 or may be somewhat differentfrom that shown in any one of these three figures; it may be somewhatirregular for example. Thus a curve (such as lines 501, 502 or 503)depicting the rate of increase might be zig-zag or snake-like in form,it being preferred only that there be an increase, not necessarily aregulaar rate of increase. The depiction of the rate as increasing ordecreasing or constant respectively in FIGURES 49, 50 and 51 is whollyand entirely schematic and the invention is equally applicable whetherthe rate increases or decreases or is constant. The rate is in mostembodiments either constant or nearly constant but is determined bydetails of the design of the wall portions which are chosen for reasonswhich constitute no part of the invention such as mold design,appearance, economics, and the like, and the rates indicatedschematically in FIGURES 49, 50 and 51 do not necessarily correspond tothe actual rates obtained with the embodiments described in thisspecification.

Referring now to FIGURE 52, there is shown a head 60a having sidewallportions and other features identical to those of head 60 in FIGURES 13and 13a. The head 60a of FIGURE 52 is made integral with container 460;the head and container may be made of the same material.

Stresses may be introduced into the head 60a of 460 by heating and thendeforming (or deforming and then heating) container 460 and then coolingcontainer 460 while maintaining the deformation of the combination ofhead and container to provide the embodiment of FIG- URES 53 and 54which contains stresses in the sidewall portions of the head whichprovide pressure between the walls of 66 and 66' of slit 65 in the samemanner as hereinbefore described in connection with other embodiments.It may be noted that resulting container 460' is relatively distortedand may serve as a fancy or decorative container. and portions of theresulting head 60af are deformed in much the same manner as thecorresponding portions of the head are deformed in the embodiment asshown in FIGURES 23 and 24.

The dispensing head and container shown in initial unstressed form inFIGURE 52 has a generally concentric or regular shape. The device isdistorted into a less concentric and more irregular shape in finalstressed form (as shown in FIGURES 53 and 54) in order to introducecompressive stresses as described above. But, if for aesthetic purposesa more concentric and more regular shape is desired as the finalstressed form of a container embodying my invention, it is obvious thatthe initial unstressed container may have a relatively less concentricand more irregular shape so that when its shape has been changed tointroduce compressive stresses as hereinbefore described, its shape willbe relatively more concentric and more regular.

Notice too that, although the embodiment shown in FIGURES 52 to 54 has aclearly defined head (60a and 69a) formed integrally With the majorcontainer or body portion (469 and 460') such structural differentiationaccording to function is not essential to the invention. Rather, asdiscussed in connection with FIGURES 10 to 12, convenient operation bymeans of a single squeezing motion of the single hand holding thecontainer may be fostered by extending downwardly the relatively rigidsidewall portions 61 and 61' of the head shown in FIG- URES 52 to 54 sothat they are smoothly integrated into the container body portion andare capable of pivoting open slit 65 by application of squeezing forceat points more distant from slit 65, thereby making it possible tocompress the container body to forceably expel the containers contentswhile at the same time opening slit 65.

In FIGURE 55 there is shown an embodiment wherein stresses have beenintroduced into a head to provide pressure between the walls of slit155. Relatively rigid sidewall portions 151 and 151' are of differentlengths; the upper portions 157 and 157 thereof are of diiferent lengthsand lower portions 159 and 159 thereof are of different lengths. Aconduit is defined in part by inner surfaces 153 and 153' of members 151and 151' and in part by inner surfaces 154 and 154' (154' not shown) ofthe relatively flexible sidewall portions between sidewall portions 151and 151. The conduit is extended beyond said sidewall portions to aflange 2.68 in such manner that contents emerging from a container towhich flange 268 may be attached travel substantially through a anglewithin the head before emerging from slit 155. The positions occupied bywall portions 151 and 151' and the portions thereof when slit 155 isopened are shown in dotted lines.

Referring now to FIGURE 56 an embodiment is provided wherein relativelyrigid first sidewall portions 161 and 161' are markedly dissimilar. Bothwall portions 161 and 161 are relatively more rigid than the wallportions which join them, the inside surface 164 of one of these wallportions being shown. However, wall portion 161 is relatively much morerigid than wall portion 161 and wall portion 161 is provided with ahandle or gripping member 461 which serves mainly to give the device asomewhat difierent aesthetic appearance. When pressure is applied to thelower relatively rigid wall portions 69 and 69', Wall portion 161rotates hingeably with respect to slit 65 to open slit 65 by hingeablymoving portions 167 and 167' apart from each other around fulcrum 168.The position of the parts when slit is opened is shown by dotted lines.When the slit is opened, it may be observed that a plane passing throughthe slit so that equal amounts of the slit are provided on each side ofthe plane is represented by dashed line 462. It may be observed thateach of wall portions 161 and 161' is rotatably displaced with respectto such plane (about fulcrum 168) when the slit is in the open positionfromthe positions they have with respect to slit 165 when it is closed.As shown, the embodiment of FIGURE 56 is shown as deformed to introducestresses in the sidewalls to provide pressure between the walls of theslit 165; such stresses may be introduced in order to provide suchpressure in any one of the manners hereinbefore described.

Referring now to FIGURE 57, there is shown a head indicated generally as170, made integral with a container 465. Head 170 may correspond to anyone of the embodiments of FIGURES 1 to 54. It may be noted that a plane(indicated by dashed line 470) passing through slit 1'75 and defined byslit is at a considerable angle to bottom 466 of container 465. A headsuch as head 170 may alternatively be made integral with or fitted to acontainer having any one of a number of relationships to a plane 470passing through slit 175, as indicated respectively by dotted lines 467,468 and 469.

Referring now to FIGURES 58 to 62, there is shown another embodimentwherein a head indicated generally as is made integral with a container480. Head 180 comprises relatively rigid sidewall portions 181 and 181'and relatively flexible, resilient sidewall portions 32 and 182'. Slit.185 at one end of the head communicates with the interior of container489 through a conduit defined in part by interior surfaces 183 and 183'of members 331 and 181' and interior surfaces 184 and 184' of sidewallportions 182 and 182 (inner surface 184 and sidewall portion 182 notbeing indicated in the figures). Sidewall portions 161 and 181' arerelatively rigid with respect to portions 182 and 182' by reason ofbeing some what thicker than portions 182 and 182' and by reason ofportions182 and 182' being corrugated in the form of collapsiblebellows, the corrugations of such bellows being integral with similarcorrugations in bellows portions which form parts of container 480 ashereinafter described. Container 480 comprises relatively rigid sidewallportion 481 extended from head sidewall portion 181 and relatively rigidsidewall portions 482, 483 and 484 extended from head sidewall portion131'. Portions 4&2, 483 and 484 have the form of a channel, portion 482constituting the bottom of the channel and portions 483 and 484 thesides of the channel. Container sides 486 and 487 and bottom 485 extendbetween aforementioned side members 481 and 453 and 4% and have the formof corrugated collapsible bellows as shown.

When force is applied to members 481 and 432 to move them toward eachother, the corrugated bellows of bottom 485, container sides 486 and4&7, and head sidewall portions 182 and 182' are somewhat collapsed andforce is transmitted to lower head sidewall portions 1$9 and 189' tocause these portions to move together as upper sidewall portions 187 and187' are moved apart; sidewall portions 181 and 181' move hingeably orrotatably with respect to fulcrum 188 which is coincident with the lowertermini of slit 185 and thereby slit walls 186 and 186 are moved aparttoopen slit 185. Removal of pressure on members 481 and 482 results in areverse hingeable movement of the several portions of the device aboutfulcrum 188 to close slit 185 due to the resilience in the material ofwhich the corrugated bellows of members 182, 182', 485, 486 and 487 ismade. During the manufacture of the device, suitable stresses maypreferably be introduced into these latter members to cause pressure tobe exerted between slit walls 186 and 186' when slit 185 is closed byreason of said stresses exerting pressure outwardly respectively onmembers 481 and 482 and 189 and 189'. Thus the portions of the headadjacent are urged toward a position wherein said portions would becoextensive in space. I

The container need not be entirely emptied at each use, but a small orlarge amount, as desired, may be delivered from the container inaccordance with the duration and magnitude of pressure applied tomembers 431 and 482. In any event, a single application of pressureserves both to open slit 185 and to dispense or express the contents ofcontainer 480 through slit 185. The depth of the channel formed bymembers 482, 483 and 484 may be suehas to cause sidewall 482 to beadjacent to sidewall 481 when the corrugated bellows of mem- 7 bers 485,486 and 4-87 is entirely collapsed. Such construction provides fordispensing a maximum amount of the contents of container 480 byexpressing such contents as would be contained between the collapsedbellows, as shown in the figures.

The introduction of stresses into the head, as described heretofore mayalso be accomplished by suitablydeforming a block of resilient materialand then machining a head from the block while the deformation ismaintained. After the machining has been completed or nearly completed,the block may be released so that the deformation is no longermaintained, to thereby provide a head containing such stresses.

The methods of introducing stresses described in connection with FIGURESl4 and 15 may suitably be varied.

For example, the deformation may be accomplished while the head is coldand then made permanent by changing the chemical composition of the headas described in connection with FIGURE 45 or by any other suitablemethod such as making the unstressed head of a material which may befurther polymerized or cross-linked (vulcanized or cured) to make itmore rigid, then deforming it, then cross-linking it or furtherpolymerizing it while maintaining such deformation to make suchdeformation permanent and thereby provide for permanence of the stressesintroduced by the deformation.

It should be noted that spring member 420 mentioned in connection withFIGURE 31 and 32 has its ends forced together to stress it prior to itsintroduction into mold member 421 and when held therein by members 422,stresses remain therein so that it tends to assume the shape shown inFIGURE 32 when it is released.

The various embodiments of the dispensing head of my invention may beutilized with containers to dispense pills, powders, granules, and thelike, as well as liquids or pastes as hereinbefore mentioned.

When material is dispensed from a container through a slit in a head inaccordance with my invention, a drop or drop-like portion of thematerial may cling to the edge of one or both of the walls of the slit.As the slit closes at the time finger pressure is released the internalvolume of the head increases and all or a part of such clinging materialis drawn back into the head by suction. The effectiveness of thisfeature is greater when the head is utilized with a resilient container(whether the head is integral with the container or is attached theretoby a threaded connection, flange connection or other connection) thanwith a rigid container if the container is squeezed to dispense thecontents because the change in total interior volume is greater and thevolume of air drawn back through the slit when pressure is released isgreater and consequently greater suction and a greater flow of air areprovided to carry such clinging material back into the interior of thehead.

The head in accordance with the invention may have any suitabledimension. Thus, the width of the slit may be as small as afraction of amillimeter or as large as 2 inches or even 6 inches.

It may thus be seen that the invention is broad in scope and includessuch modifications as will be apparent to those skilled in, the art andis to be limited only by the claims. I

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A substantially resilient dispensing head for a container comprisinga member of resilient material having two first sidewall portions andtwo second sidewall portions, a conduit at least partly defined onopposite sides by interior surfaces of the lower portions of said firstsidewall portions and at least partly defined between said oppositesides by interior surfaces of said second sidewall portions, a slit inone end of said member communicating with said conduit, said slit havingwalls provided by upper portions of said first sidewall portions, saidfirst sidewall portions hingeable about a fulcrum to move said upperportions apart and to bring toward each other said lower portionsthereof with concomitant flexing of said second. sidewall portions, saidconduit disposed to provide'for communication between said slit and acontainer at the opposite endof said head from said slit, said headparticularly characterized by said first sidewall portions beingrelatively rigid and said second sidewall portions being relativelyfiexible and resiliently deformable and by said fulcrum coincidingsubstantially with the lower termini of said slit and by stresses insaid sidewall portions which tend to deform said head into a positionwherein said upper portions would be partly coextensive in space, saidstresses providing pressure of each of said Walls of said slit againtthe other to provide closing of said slit, said slit having lowertermini which are substantially on a single line, said head particularlycharacterized by said fulcrum coinciding substantially

1. A SUBSTANTIALLY RESILIENT DISPENSING HEAD FOR A CONTAINER COMPRISINGA MEMBER OF RESLINET MATERIAL HAVING TWO FIRST SIDEWALL PORTIONS AND TWOSECOND SIDEWALL PORTIONS, A CONDUIT AT LEAST PARTLY DEFINED ON OPPOSITESIDES BY INTERIOR SURFACES OF THE LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST SIDEWALLPORTIONS AND AT LEAST PARTLY DEFINED BETWEEN SAID OPPOSITE SIDES BYINTERIOR SURFACES OF SAID SECOND SIDEWALL PORTIONS, A SLIT IN ONE END OFSAID MEMBER COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CONDUIT, SAID SLIT HAVING WALLSPROVIDED BY UPPER PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST SIDEWALL PORTIONS, SAID FIRSTSIDEWALL PORTIONS HINGEABLE ABOUT A FULCRUM TO MOVE SAID UPPER PORTIONSAPART AND TO BRING TOWARD EACH OTHER SAID LOWER PORTIONS THEREOF WITHCONCOMITANT FLEXING OF SAID SECOND SIDEWALL PORTIONS, SAID CONDUITDISPOSED TO PROVIDE FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID SLIT AND A CONTAINERAT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID HEAD FROM SAID SLIT, SAID HEAD PARTICULARLYCHARACTERIZED BY SAID FIRST SIDEWALL PORTIONS BEING RELATIVELY RIGID ANDSAID SECOND SIDEWALL PORTIONS BEING RELATIVELY FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENTLYDEFORMABLE AND BY SAID FULCRUM COINCIDING SUBSTANTIALLY WITH THE LOWERTERMINI OF SAID SLIT AND BY STRESSES IN SAID SIDEWALL PORTIONS WHICHTEND TO DEFORM SAID HEAD INTO A POSITION WHEREIN SAID UPPER PORTIONSWOULD BE PARTLY COEXTENSIVE IN SPACE, SAID STRESSES PROVIDING PRESSUREOF EACH OF SAID WALLS OF SAID SLIT AGAINST THE OTHER TO PROVIDE CLOSINGOF SAID SLIT, SAID SLIT HAVING LOWER TERMINI WHICH ARE SUBSTANTIALLY ONA SINGLE LINE, SAID HEAD PARTICULARLY CHARACTERIZED BY SAID FULCRUMCOINCIDING SUBSTANTIALLY WITH SAID LINE AND THEREFORE WITH THE LOWERTERMINI OF SAID SLIT.